The Ana Ivanovic Site

Q. Thoughts on that?

ANA IVANOVIC: It was tough match, definitely. I really struggled with the rhythm in the beginning. She is tough opponent. You really have to get that hit on the ball, otherwise she likes to dominate and step up and take her chances.

I really felt I was lacking that in the first set and sort of in the second set. In the second set I started to serve a lot better, which helped me to come to 1All, 2All. Then I really fought back hard trying to come back and started to strike the ball a lot better.

You know, it was just really pity that I didn't use opportunities I had. But she served really well. You know, she's playing well. Being lefty it's also really hard to read her serve.

But I really tried hard and today. Just the rhythm was lacking a bit.

Q. How did you try and get back into that match? Mentally how did you find that rhythm?

ANA IVANOVIC: It's very hard, especially against Petra, because she goes for her shots and you don't get good rhythm. For example, having long rallies, it's not going to happen. You really have to try and get a swing on the ball and hope you will get into rhythm and that's going to cause some errors.

That's what happened to me today. She's not kind of player who is going to let you get back in the rhythm. You to try and focus on the things you work in practice and sort of try to copy that and do it over and over again.

Towards the end of second set I really felt like I was striking the ball nicely, and that felt really good. It's just pity that it was quite late in the second set.

Q. Do you think she was thrown off by missing the overhead towards the end of the second set?

ANA IVANOVIC: Maybe. Maybe a bit. But, you know, it was a big point, I guess. But it was a bit hard also with the sun right at the top.

But, you know, it was my serve and she still was serving quite well up to that point. I really had to step it up, and I really tried to swing at the ball and tried to be aggressive. It worked well, so I was happy I managed to break that game.

Q. Her power off the ground, does it compare to the biggest hitters in the game: Serena, Kim?

ANA IVANOVIC: Yeah, it definitely does. I think in the beginning of the match I actually felt like the ball was going to come a little faster. I got caught few times like not turned enough because the ball would skid through. She's a good player and No. 2 for a reason.

So, yeah, she definitely generates a lot of power.

Q. She's probably going to take over the No. 1 at some point in the near future. What advice would you give her having climbed that mountain yourself?

ANA IVANOVIC: Yeah, she should just keep at what she's doing the best and keep  her game is very aggressive and has a good serve. Being a lefty, I think it's great advantage, because we don't face so many players playing lefthand, and obviously ball spins differently.

She should just keep doing what she's doing. She's great young player.

Q. I know you've worked on your serve recently and seems like you did serve really well in this tournament. Are you happy with that part of your game?

ANA IVANOVIC: Yeah, I served really well, that's why today was frustrating. I still felt like my rhythm was there and just wasn't executing well and misstiming the ball a little bit.

But there were a lot positive throughout this week. You know, it's something that motivates me to stay on top of it and work even harder at it. It's definitely improved since last year.

Q. You had a pretty solid result here this week. How are you feeling generally about your game and where it was compared to three, four years ago?

ANA IVANOVIC: Yeah, like I said, there is a lot of improvements that I feel I gained over offseason. You know, it's been nice, nice tournament for me. I played some really good tennis and proved to myself that I can play that level and compete against the best.

That's definitely something that motivates me to now work harder. And, you know, there is still plenty of work to be done, but I'm enjoying competing on this level again. I just want to have to have a good year.

Q. (Question off mic.)

ANA IVANOVIC: We just, you know, just support each other and try to be there for each other as much as we can.

Q. You ever talk to Caroline about dating a golfer?

ANA IVANOVIC: Well, I don't think either of us plays really well. You mean playing golf or...

Q. No, dating a golfer.

ANA IVANOVIC: No, she did ask me like what kind of shoes should I take to walk on the course. Just the most comfortable ones.

Ana Ivanovic is starting to look more and more like the Grand Slam champion she’s been in the past.

Ivanovic, 24, owns the 2008 French Open title and also reached two other major finals – the 2007 French Open and 2008 Australian Open – earlier in her career. But after that French Open victory injuries set in and her confidence crashed. While she’s captured 11 career titles – the last when she defended her Bali crown last fall – she didn’t win any trophies between the three she picked up in 2008 until she won the 2010 Linz and Bali titles.

Now the Serbian star is looking more comfortable on court again and is into the fourth round courtesy of a 6-3 6-4 win over American Vania King on Saturday.

“I really hope I can go far and spend another week here,” Ivanovic said after posting the 77-minute match win over King. “That would be fun to compete next Saturday.”

Ivanovic made some changes to facilitate her goal of hopefully collecting at least another Grand Slam title. For starters, she picked up a new coach in Briton Nigel Sears after last Wimbledon. Sears used to be the guru behind Daniela Hantuchova’s game, so Ivanovic was very familiar with him and his abilities as a coach.

“I was very excited after Wimbledon when we sort of started working together,” the 24-year-old said. “I felt like through the summer in America I was improving each week. But we didn’t have time for preparation to work on the game. This off-season was the first time we could actually take some time and work on things specifically. I really feel it’s paying off.”

Ivanovic is yet to drop a set through three rounds, playing Lourdes Dominguez Lino, of Spain, Michaela Krajicek, of the Netherlands, and King.

One improvement Ivanovic and Sears have been tackling is with her serve. When a player believes they can take care of their own serve it allows them more freedom to go after the opponents’ serve for the break.

When asked on what she’s been working on since joining forces with Sears, Ivanovic said, “One of the big areas was the serve. That needed some improvement. Throughout the end of last year it was improving. In the off-season we really had time to work on it. It has improved a lot.”

Against Krajicek in the second round, Ivanovic never faced a break point on serve. Against King she was not that fortunate as the American broke her serve on three of nine offerings – in the fifth game of the first set, and the second and sixth games of the second set. Ivanovic, however, was able to break serve on five of nine opportunities, which enabled her to score the victory.

“(I was) really happy to close out that second set because it was really up and down,” she said. “It was (a) tough set, but she was playing well.”

It’s the getting through tougher battles that makes a player strong and Ivanovic has struggled to return to that kind of form. She’s hoping that the program Sears designs will keep her on the up-and-up. But there’s always patience needed when you adjust to a new player-coach relationship.

“We are still getting to know each other, the rhythm and what works, what not,” she said of the relationship with Sears. “We both believe in the same things. Pre-season, we sat down and set goals for ourselves. I feel like I can absorb a lot of his teachings.”

One goal was to reach at least the quarterfinals here at Melbourne Park. She hasn’t been in a Grand Slam quarterfinal since she won the 2008 French Open and this is the 15th major she’s played since that achievement. She’s now one match away from that quarterfinal goal, but she has world No.2 and reigning Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova standing in her way in the fourth round.

“It’s going to be a very tough one,” Ivanovic said of playing Kvitova. “Petra is definitely playing some great tennis. She’s one of the hottest players at the moment. It’s going to be a great challenge for me.

“But I’m really happy to go out there and throw my best at her. The better player will win.”

Another goal Ivanovic is focused on for 2012 is playing at the Olympics. A hand injury kept her from competing at the 2008 Beijing Games.

“It’s definitely one of my priorities for this year,” Ivanovic said. “I’m so thrilled to have (the) opportunity to compete in Olympic Games. I think it’s a great way to represent your country.”

But before Ivanovic can get too caught up in the Olympic dream, she needs to be caught up on fashioning a strategy to take care of Petra Kvitova in the fourth round. And she’s just happy to be feeling like she’s back playing winning tennis.

“I still believe I can do well,” Ivanovic said. “I’m just enjoying competing again. It’s going to be tough, but I love challenges.”

Q. Were you happy with the way you closed it out?

ANA IVANOVIC: Yeah, definitely. Really happy to close out that second set because it was really up and down. It was tough set. She was playing really well.

But I'm really happy I managed to survive that last game.

Q. Tell us about calling the doctor, what you were feeling at that time.

ANA IVANOVIC: Yeah, I caught a bug a couple days ago, after my secondround match. I wasn't feeling really good yesterday. So I had to take it really easy.

Today I felt fine. Just started to get a little nauseous again in that second set. Then I just took some tablets and it really helped to calm things down a bit.

Q. Been a while since you made it to the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam. How much does winning that next match mean to you?

ANA IVANOVIC: Oh, it would be great. That's definitely my goal, you know. I always want to take it one match at a time. You know, next match will get me there.

It's going to be very tough one. Petra is definitely playing some great tennis. She's one of the hottest players at the moment. It's going to be great challenge for me.

But I'm really happy to go out there and throw my best at her. The better player will win.

Q. How much do you credit your form here to spending so much time in Australia beforehand?

ANA IVANOVIC: Oh, I think it's great because I had time to adjust to circumstances. I love it. I've done it every year, you know, for maybe eight or ten years now. It's always very enjoyable. It's great to be back in the second week and competing against top players.

Q. Is there something about your preparation this time that's made you go well?

ANA IVANOVIC: Yeah, it's been a little bit of a change. Normally I had a very big team of people around me. This time it was just Nigel, and I had physio working, making sure the body's in line because I had lots of little injuries and pains and niggles the last couple years, I really wanted to get rid of them this year.

So it was physical, but I did a lot of my fitness work on the court with Nigel. That's really paying off. I'm feeling very good physically.

Q. Do you think Adam will stay around for as long as you go?

ANA IVANOVIC: Yeah, that's the deal. I really hope I can go far and spend another week here. That would be fun to compete next Saturday.

Q. You've been in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. Do you think the male players should do stuff like that, like Novak Djokovic or someone?

ANA IVANOVIC: Well, I don't know. I mean, yeah, they should try, see how they go.

Q. Anyone in particular you think should give modeling a go?

ANA IVANOVIC: I don't know. You tell me which one would you like to see (laughter).

Q. You didn't get to play in the Beijing Olympics because of an injury. How much are the London games this summer a goal for you?

ANA IVANOVIC: It's definitely one of the priorities for this year. I'm so thrilled to have opportunity to compete again in Olympic Games. I think it's a great way to represent your country. It's very, very exciting.

I think I'm also going to play mixed doubles with Zimonjic, which is fun. I think it's a great opportunity. I really want to try and stay healthy this year and compete there.

Q. Can you tell us how valuable Nigel's experience in the women's game is to you?

ANA IVANOVIC: It's been really good. I've been very fortunate that we had the opportunity to work with each other. I was really excited after Wimbledon when we sort of started working together.

I felt like through the summer in America I was improving each week. I had a great week in Bali last year. But, you know, we actually did not have time for preparation in time to work on the game. This offseason was the first time we could actually take some time and work on things specifically. I really feel it's paying off.

We are still getting to know each other, the rhythm and what works, what not. It definitely helped me a lot. We both believe in the same things. Preseason, we sat down and set goals for ourselves. I feel like I can absorb a lot of his teachings.

Q. Why did you choose him and how long before you actually hooked up together did you identify him as a coach you wanted to work with?

ANA IVANOVIC: Obviously, I know him for a long time, ever since I started on tour. I've seen him around with Daniela. Afterwards I know he worked for LTA. He was always one of the people I wanted to be coached by and talked to about that possibility. It really came about fast.

In Wimbledon we spoke a little bit. I was very fortunate that he could start straightaway. I think it was great opportunity for both of us.

Q. Did you have a specific goal here for the Australian Open when you sat down with him?

ANA IVANOVIC: We definitely set some goals. But it's just very exciting to be in a second week. That was a first step for us. That was a first goal we had. It's nice to be able to achieve that. Now it's going to be tough matches, match after match.

But I still believe I can do well. I'm just enjoying competing again. It's going to be tough, but I love challenges.

Q. Can you give us an idea of what areas of your game Nigel has helped you the most with?

ANA IVANOVIC: One of the big areas was the serve. That needed some improvement. Throughout the end of last year it was improving. But now in offseason we really had time to work on it. It has improved a lot.

Also my base game, just lifting the level of my base game is something that we worked a lot on. My forehand. Just lots of little bits and pieces that are sort of coming together now. I'm just very excited to see.

Q. You just spoke about defending the colors of your country. Will you be on the Fed Cup team in two weeks?

ANA IVANOVIC: I still didn't decide about it. But, like I said, I think this is a big year with Olympics. I want to really represent my country in the best possible way. I really want to be fit and well for that, just see how I go there.

But hopefully yes.

Q. It depends on what happens next week?

ANA IVANOVIC: Yeah, definitely.

Two comfortable wins on her way to the third round is a positive start to Australian Open 2012, but it’s a little premature to declare that Ana Ivanovic is back. However, the former world No.1 is beginning to show the consistency that vaulted her to the top of the sport back in 2008, the last and only time she won a Grand Slam title, at Roland Garros.

The cornerstone of Ivanovic’s game – the blistering forehand – was well grooved today throughout her 63-minute hit-out against Dutchwoman Michaella Krajicek. So too was her serve, often a liability but today not even made to face a break point as she advanced 6-2, 6-3 over the world No.91.

When Ivanovic won that French Open title, almost four years ago, she had for a while been consistently going deep in tournaments. A runner-up finish at Melbourne Park in 2008 was followed by a run to the title in Indian Wells, and shortly after that she banished all competition on the Parisian red clay. But as the story has been told many times, she crashed back to earth in a big way, and has never fully recovered.

There have been flashes of brilliance since that major win. But every time the Serbian made a push, or scored a significant victory, it was inevitably followed by another slump. Not helping the situation has been the constant hiring, firing and re-shuffling within her entourage over the past few seasons. Now working with credentialled British coach Nigel Sears, Ivanovic believes getting “back to basics” has been the biggest positive for her during her recent renaissance.

“I feel really comfortable in the environment I have now. I think that's been the biggest change. It was tough one. It was kind of radical because you always have so many people on your team,” she said.

“But I really feel it's helped my game a lot, and my mental side as well. It's been great.”

Sears has been crucial in introducing that simplicity back into her game. A notoriously anxious and highly-strung player, Ivanovic publicly admitted that she was thinking too much on the court and her mind clouded with indecision, rather than just letting her big baseline game flow.

At the Brisbane International two weeks ago, Sears came onto court several times during Ivanovic’s matches, reminding her to stay true to her aggressive game and simply focus on one or two tactics during the match. While the Serbian does not have the luxury of on-court consultations during Grand Slam play, she believes in the game-plan she discusses with Sears prior to her matches and takes it with her onto the court.

“I worked a lot on my game in the off‑season. When I'm out there I really know what I have to do and I stay with it. I'm more persistent and confident in that because I know that's what's going to give me results and help me to play better,” she revealed.

“It might not work on a given day and I try to adjust. In the long run, in the big picture, that's what's going to get me back to the top.”

It was certainly evident against Krajicek on Hisense Arena on Thursday. By far the more consistent player, Ivanovic raced through the opening set. Surviving some ball-toss wobbles when serving for it in the eighth game, she nonetheless continued to hit out and was rewarded with a one-set lead in just 22 minutes.

Despite the second set being a tighter affair, Ivanovic was still in control. The Serb frequently came out on top of lengthy rallies, and showed off some impressive footwork and court movement in scrambling for several of Krajicek’s balls, often drawing errors from the Dutchwoman’s racquet. Krajicek finished with 23 errors (and just 14 winners), and her normally dominant serve was off-colour – she landed less than half of her first serves and dished up seven double faults.

Ivanovic by contrast posted an exemplary stat sheet, striking 17 winners, keeping her unforced errors to 11, and winning eight of 11 points at net. Impressively, she has not dropped serve all tournament. And in good news for her fans, she believes she can still improve.

“Today at times I felt maybe I was a little too passive. I could have been more aggressive,” Ivanovic reflected.

“(But) I really tried to pick the right ball to come in and be aggressive. That's something I worked a lot also on my spin, on my forehand, so I don't play as flat as I used to. It's working really well. I can sort of push opponents around the court.”

She’s already done far better than in her previous Australian Open campaign, where she crashed out in the first round to little-known Russian Ekaterina Makarova. But if Ivanovic is to really be considered as being “back”, she needs to start producing her early round form against the game’s big guns.

Lately, she’s only infrequently played against the game’s elite. In 2011 she faced a top 10 opponent just four times, and went an underwhelming 2-2. Throwing in matches against Serena and Venus – not top 10 at the time but greats of the game nonetheless – her record slips to 2-4.

But there’s no doubt she’s getting close. In Brisbane, Ivanovic had Kim Clijsters on the ropes and successfully traded blows with the defending Australian Open champ before falling 6-3 in the third, having led 3-0. With her next opponent projected to be 15th seed and rapidly rising talent Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova – should the Russian come through her match later today – Ivanovic will get an opportunity to test her improved game and mentality against tougher opposition.

“There are no easy matches. Next round again is going to be tough one. But I feel like I'm getting into the tournament,” she said.

“It's nice to get some wins and be in contention to play against top players.”

By Nicholas McCarvel

Ana Ivanovic, the 2008 runner-up here, moved into the second round on Tuesday night with a decisive 6-0 6-3 win over Lourdes Dominguez Lino.

Ivanovic, who crashed out in the first round at Melbourne Park last year, raced through the first set against the Spaniard in just 20 minutes, succumbing just 10 points to her opponent on Show Court 2.

Ivanovic, the No.21 seed, broke for the first-set win with a sizzling crosscourt forehand return, a shot she pounded throughout the night against the diminutive 30-year-old.

The second set, however, was a different story as Dominguez Lino’s loopy groundstrokes and tricky slice balls continued to force Ivanovic to create the pace, eventually drawing errors from the former world No.1.

But while the two battled through long games on Dominguez Lino’s serve, Ivanovic held serve easily throughout the second. She didn’t face a break point in the entire match.

“There were a lot of … annoying practices of just serving, serving, serving,” Ivanovic said of her off-season after the match. “That’s what gets you better.”

Ivanovic finally got the better of the Dominguez Lino serve in the second set when she broke after a series of deuces in the eighth game. She knocked a forehand winner past Dominguez Lino to lead 5-3, letting out a cry of joy directed at her player’s box, which included boyfriend Adam Scott, the professional Australian golfer.

It was the first time Dominguez Lino and Ivanovic, 22, had met, with the Serbian using her big groundstrokes to counter the Spaniard’s variety of spins, keeping her on the run for much of the match.

Since her run to the final in 2008, Ivanovic has gone just 3-3 at the Australian Open. She lost to world No.49 Ekaterina Makarova 10-8 in the third set in a heartbreaking first-round loss last year.

“The nerves kick in and it’s just normal,” Ivanovic said of playing at the majors. “Especially the first rounds, you want to do so well … You just have to approach every match like it’s going to be the toughest one.”

Ivanovic closed out the 65-minute encounter when Dominguez Lino sent a lob long.

The Serbian hit 32 winners in the match compared to Dominguez Lino's seven. Ivanovic also registered a solid night at the net, winning 18 of 29 approaches.

She is due to face Michaella Krajicek in the second round. The two have met twice, splitting their two encounters, both of which came in 2006.